Spain’s 1917 Crisis and Political Breakdown
The 1917 Crisis in Spain
Military Discontent and Juntas
The strong discontent among the military, which opposed official excesses, led to the formation of so-called Juntas de Defensa (Defense Juntas). These juntas, originating in Barcelona and spreading through most peninsular garrisons, demanded pay rises and promotions. They opposed the existing promotion system, claiming seniority as the sole criterion for advancement. Their manifesto of June 1917 called for political renewal.
Political Instability
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United Kingdom: Government, Economy, and Culture
Constitutional Monarchy and Parliament
The United Kingdom operates as a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government. The Head of State is the monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II, while the Head of Government is the Prime Minister.
Power is vested in the Parliament, which consists of two houses:
- House of Commons: Members are elected, and the majority party typically forms the government, with its leader becoming the Prime Minister. This house
Spain’s Second Republic: Reform and Reaction (1931-1936)
The Reformist Biennium (1931-1933)
From April 14, 1931, to November 19, 1933, the government of the Second Spanish Republic was primarily led by centrist and left-republican coalitions.
Elections were called for June 28, 1931, marking the beginning of significant reforms. Key initiatives focused on improving education, addressing rural issues, modernizing the army, and redefining relations with the Church.
Key Reforms and Initiatives
- Agrarian Reform: Aimed at distributing land, especially arable land,
Spanish Restoration System: Crisis and Collapse
CRISIS AND COLLAPSE OF THE RESTORATION SYSTEM:
- There were major movements in the regeneration of the system. The failure of Canalejas and Maura ushered in an era of instability and uncertainty, which had its peak in the triple crisis of 1917 and the military coup of 1923.
- The governments of these years were not ideal. Executive powers seemed weak and almost always overwhelmed by the initiative of problems. Their duration was short, averaging 9 months.
The First World War and Increased Social Conflict:
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World War II: Origins and Global Expansion
On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. This time, Britain and France did not yield, declaring war on Germany two days later, thus initiating the Second World War.
Affected by the economic crisis, Japan embarked on an expansionist policy towards neighboring China. It militarily occupied Manchuria in 1931 and, in 1932, announced the formation of a puppet state. Between 1932 and 1937, Japan sought to conquer China and expand throughout Southeast Asia.
Read MoreSpain’s Democratic Transformation: From Dictatorship to Freedom
Spain’s Democratic Transformation
The Franco Regime’s Final Years
Franco ruled Spain as a dictator until his death, presiding over a country that was slowly recovering until an economic development surge in the 1960s. Without altering its authoritarian regime, Spain attempted to adapt to international developments to gain recognition from other nations and ensure its internal stability. During the so-called “economic miracle,” popular mobilization demanding freedoms grew, while the regime offered
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